The Bulgarian government is resigning after less than a year in office after a series of anti-corruption protests, the prime minister has said.
Rosen Zhelyazkov’s announcement on Thursday came before a vote in parliament on a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition against the government.
In the latest rally, tens of thousands of people protested across Bulgaria on Wednesday against the government and its perceived failure to clamp down on corruption.
The demonstrations were sparked by a 2026 draft budget, which protesters said was an attempt to mask rampant corruption. The government withdrew the budget last week, but anger has persisted.
“The government resigns today,” Zhelyazkov told reporters on Thursday after a meeting of leaders of ruling parties. “People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and religions have spoken out in favour of resignation. That is why this civic energy must be supported and encouraged.”
The EU’s poorest country is due to join the eurozone on 1 January. This is expected to go ahead despite the government resigning.
Analysts say low trust in Bulgarian institutions and leaders has been compounded by concerns about prices as the country prepares to adopt the euro.
Last week, the Bulgarian president, Rumen Radev, declared his support for the protesters and urged the government to resign to make way for early elections.
On Wednesday, tens of thousands rallied outside the parliament building in Sofia, according to an AFP journalist on the scene. Protesters chanted “resign” and held up signs reading “I’m fed up!” featuring caricatures of politicians.
Gergana Gelkova, 24, a shop worker, told AFP she had joined the protest because widespread corruption had become “intolerable”. Most of her friends no longer lived in Bulgaria and did not plan to return, she added.
Bulgaria is one of the lowest ranking members on the watchdog Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.
The Balkan country has had seven snap elections after huge anti-government protests in 2020 against the government of the three-time premier Boyko Borissov.
Borissov’s centre-right European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party topped the most recent election last year, forming the current coalition government in January.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
